Author Ed

Well, it didn’t come home, but Gareth Southgate’s side surpassed expectations and made the national team likeable again. Instead, France become world champions for the second time. Rant Cast looks back on an eventful tournament.

England into the World Cup semi-final. ENGLAND INTO THE WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL. Not only has Gareth Southgate’s side surpassed expectations, but – whisper it – the national team might just be likeable again.

It has been good, hasn’t it, the World Cup? As the knockout stages get underway, the Rant Cast crew talk about all the fallout from some big name exits – Spain, Germany, Portugal, Argentina – and look forward to England’s game against Colombia in the Round of 16.

For the next month Rant Cast is parking any discussion of José Mourinho, the Premier League and domestic football. Instead, there’s the world’s biggest tournament to enjoy. One month, 32 teams, more than 60 games – and plenty of United interest.

The season ended in disappointment; José Mourinho’s prosaic side going down to Chelsea at Wembley. Not that there hasn’t been plenty of that to go around over these past five long years. No FA Cup redemption to save a trophyless season.

The Premier League season ended with a whimper rather than a bang – a lifeless draw at West Ham United followed by a lifeless home victory over Watford. José Mourinho’s team finished the campaign on 81 points – the best total since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement – but 19 behind Manchester City.

This would have been a rant about United’s abject result on the South Coast in losing to Brighton & Hove Albion. About the travesty of the collective performance and most of the individuals last Friday. About Jose Mourinho’s tactics and his decision to throw his players under the bus. Yet again. But then Sir Alex Ferguson fell seriously ill. It kinda put things into perspective.

So it is goodbye to the specialist in failure who signed off at Old Trafford with … another failure. This time it was close, with Arsenal’s youngsters giving a good account of themselves until Marouane Fellaini’s injury-time winner. How fitting victory should come in Fergie-time, with Sir Alex leading the pre-match ceremonies.

Another FA Cup semi-final, another victory as United cruised past Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley last weekend. The Reds won 2-1, but it seemed a lot easier than that. Could the season end on a high after all?